Are you a painter who works from a planned idea or,?

Question

do you work intuitively allowing the painting to emerge and develope as you are working on it making discoveries along the way. Have you tried both? If so, which works best for you and why?

By planned idea, I mean by using an already drawn out plan as in a drawing. Or, having a system by which you already have down and work.

By planned idea I also mean from a very conceptual approach.

Answer 1

Here is what has worked for me for years now:

Because I would quickly get bored doing paintings in the same style over and over again, and because I hate waiting for paint to dry on specific paintings I usually start work on at least two (and most often three) paintings at the same time.

The first painting will be one that I have already conceived in my head and pretty much know before hand what it will look like. This is usually a figurative, realistic painting.

The up side to doing a painting that I already know what it will look like is that I am almost always pleased with the finished work. The down side to such paintings are that there aren't any fun or inspired 'surprises' in doing these.

The second painting (and often the third, too) will be something I've been wanting to try, to play around with, and only have a vague idea of what I will be doing with it. These works are always fun to do because I like the sudden surprises they sometimes offer and I allow for sudden changes of direction or content tone.

The down side to the vague idea paintings is that every once in a while the painting ends up looking like crap and ends up getting painted over.

The third painting will be one that comes purely from the sub-conscience. Meaning, I simply start working on it without any idea what it's going to be, what it's going to look like. I call the ones I paint in this style my 'sub-symbolism' paintings because they really are works that come from somewhere just below the surface, that come from the sub-conscience.

Funny thing is, quite often, I'm more amazed by, and end up liking more, these paintings than the ones that have been pre-planned from the beginning.

Answer 2

Most of the time, I see the painting already finished in my head. I then go to the canvas and replicate it. I love being able to materialize my vision and imagination in this way, a lot of my conceptual art is developed in this manner.

Lately, I've been exploring the emotional abstract, just painting with a blank and open mind to what comes out on the canvas and it kind of develops itself as I work through it. This is more challenging for me, but I'm learning to enjoy it. It is definitely a form of therapy for me.

I find practicing both techniques engaging and rewarding. My plan is to hybrid the two in the future to create some really interesting pieces.

Answer 3

I now always start out with a general idea in my head. when I don't start out with a planned idea I just have inspiration and do my take on whatever it takes me to. I work better starting with a planned idea and then I always allow room to alter and change. My ideas are always very abstract and my drawings beforehand are always small and my work is extremely detail oriented so they never end up being at all how I planned at least my best work goes through a process. It's the most interesting. I think the best artists are those who can do both working from a planned idea and executing it as planned and also having the creative capacity and sense of adventure to go off the path you created for yourself and let process be your friend. Also those that can create something just out of your head without having an idea shows incredible skill for the impropmtu and innovation. The best artists can do it all! Great question.Some of my best planned pieces that came out completely different from how I first envisioned them:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n109/quirkeechic/beautifulborderdrawingfavorite.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n109/quirkeechic/weirdpiece.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n109/quirkeechic/largesttriptych.jpg

Answer 4

Sometimes i plan it out when an idea just pops into my mind and want to paint it out. Other times its like I'll start with a background first, and then I let it sit there for a few days staring at it. And I add a few more layers or some pieces around the house. I probably work on 2 to 3 paintings at a time. Oil paintings take awhile to dry then acrylic. So I multitask between them. I like alot of texture in my oil/acrylic paintings. And sometimes there are other times I'm walking around and i want to take a picture of something and paint that, like a landcape.

Answer 5

I have a regular job, a family, and then there are my friends, so I found that planning a project works best for me. I keep in mind that most project i tend to work on can take weeks to complete, so planning it out keeps me on track and allows me to get into the painting groove when i get home from work. My work can be checked out at hellosanantonio.com under artist name ''Guerro''. There are presently two art pages with the same name, the one with the most images of my art is the most current.

Answer 6

When I began painting I didn't do much planning. But now I do sketches and plan/think a lot before starting a painting.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cesarcordova/message/21

I could work again painting without planning, but I have tried it and I'm not very fond of the results

Answer 7

Personally, I use both.

It is good to have a general idea of the "technical" lawout.
It is good to let your humanity come out also.

I am in a constant search to make my life balanced. I try to use alittle of both. Let your spirit sing instinktively, but in a controlled manner. Lol,...lets not get to out of control,..little steps at a time.

Now that I think of it,...it is the only way I made it through "academic" art school.

I also agree with, worldofjunimoon.com.

Answer 8

Boy, you are receiving a half & half group of answers! For me, I have to have a plan. I need everything drawn out. I don't have the gift of working from my imagination. (Unless it's a cartoon. I did make up a cartoon thing.)

Answer 9

the big adventure it is not to have a plan. and you need to think a lot having one. that disturbs me. depends on how emotional you are. if you dont want to do big magic, you can have a plan. but it will not be so intense and intimate when painting. but better to have a plan than to end in this creative nowhere as i often do.

Answer 10

You need a plan.
The definition of art is one word "communication."
Before you ever start a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; think "what do I want to communicate here"
Even with abstract you need a "center of interest".
You must use composition, color, tone, etc to create this.
If your going into it with nothing in your mind, nothing will be communicated.
This might be alright for decorative art, but it will never be fine art until you are in control of what's going on.